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Questionnaire response 19

Page history last edited by PBworks 17 years, 5 months ago

1. Name (optional): Steven F. Gardner

 

2. Age: 43

 

3. Nationality: USA

 

4. Gender: male

 

5. How would you explain your path to someone else with no knowledge of it?

 

I don't subscribe to the term "path" which implies that I'm following a

course laid out before me. Rather, I prefer the term "Journey" which seems to

me to be a better fit. The influences on this Journey have varied over the

years and include Christian, agnostic, atheist, Druid, Pagan, and Taoist.

These have all had an influence, but to say that I am any one of these "labels"

would fall short. The nearest philosophy I've come across that seems to fit

pretty well is Pantheist. But beyond the generalities of Pantheism, I believe

that this "One" of which we all are a part is, in itself, intelligent in a way

we can never fully understand.

 

6. How is your path expressed in practice?

 

Practice? Sounds like you're talking about "What do you DO?" I've learned

it's not so much what I DO, but what I AM that is of consideration. I am of

The One. What I DO is up to me. In practical terms, I DO observe the rotation

of the "Wheel of the Year" so to speak by observing the Solstices and Equinoxes

(primarily) as well as the days that fall at the midpoints (secondarily) between

these days. I also take note of "A Time between Times" (as the Equinoxes and

Solstices fit) as well as "A Place between Places", which, of course, are

variable. I have an affinity toward the ancient "Elements" of Air, Earth, Fire,

and Water, but don't incorporate them into any sort of ritual except for very

special occasions (I performed a marriage ceremony for some friends, for

example).

 

7. How do you know if your practice is successful?

 

I'm not sure what you're getting at by this question. Would you ask this of a

Christian or a Jew? What is a successful practice?

 

8. Why have you chosen the particular path you are following?

 

My belief is about who I am. It isn't about a path that I'm following. I am

exploring my relationship with The One. That's all.

 

9. What is your experience of otherworld beings? Could you give some examples.

 

I have enough to worry about in THIS world without looking to otherworlds.

That being said, I feel a connection within The One when I look for it. I

don't see it as a seperate "being" in any way.

 

10. How do you see your relationship with them?

 

See #9 above.

 

11. How does your path relate to other areas of your life?

 

My Journey IS my life. I feel a connection to The One on an ongoing basis.

Even in my work which is heavily industrial, I know what I am, and why I'm

here.

 

12. How do you see the relationship of life and death?

 

Life and Death are merely different phases of the same existance.

 

13. How do you see time?

 

I don't. Time is a construct of our own concious human minds and is based on

our limited perspective. If the whole could be viewed, Time would be

irrelevant.

 

14. How do you handle ideas of good and evil?

 

Good and Evil are human constructs as well. They also are based on limited

human perspective. If the whole could be viewed, Good and Evil would also be

irrelevant. For instance, Osama bin Laden, I'm sure, feels that it was a good

thing to blow up the World Trade Center.

 

15. How do you view different spaces and objects in your practice or experience?

 

Every thing and every space is a part of The One. How I make use of these

things would be cermonial only. I don't use such things in any of my

observances. For the Solstices and Equinoxes (A time between times) I will

usually go off to the Mountains or the Seashore (A place between places) for my

observances. Once there, I will look for "found objects" to represent the

elements of air, earth, fire, and water. I've not been "skunked" in over 20

years of practice, and I've never taken anything with me.

 

16. How do you feel about other religions?

 

They're okay for those who find them to meet their needs. For my own views,

most of them make God too small. Further, it seems the ultimate foolishness to

me, but to use religion as a reason for war is patently absurd.

 

17. How do you feel about science?

 

Man's quest to understand his environment? What can be bad about that.

Unless he uses this understanding to wage war on religious grounds ...

 

18. How do you feel modern Paganisms relate to ancient paganisms?

 

It doesn't. But that also doesn't matter. If modern Pagans find their

spiritual needs met in their religion, who's to argue.

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